COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 206/98 Main Rotor Blade - Inspection 5/85
TX
Applicability: All models 206L and 206L-1 with S/Nos 45001 to 45790 and 46601 to 46617. All model 206L-3 with S/Nos 51001 to 51109, 51111 to 51117 and 51119 to 51124.
Requirement: Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 206L-85-35.
Compliance: PART 1: At each daily inspection after 22 March 1985 until compliance with Part 2.
Note: This inspection may be accomplished by the pilot in command in which case he/she shall enter and certify for this AD in Col. 2 Part 3 of the Maintenance Release on each occasion.
PART 2: Prior to 1 June 1985.
Background: The manufacturer reports cases of chordwise cracking.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, are integral to the regulation of civil aviation within the country. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, aims to address safety issues and ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft by mandating compliance with specific directives. The airworthiness directive AD/BELL 206/98, for example, addresses the issue of chordwise cracking reported by the manufacturer in certain models of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. The directive was introduced to enhance aviation safety by requiring regular inspections of the main rotor blades on specified models and serial numbers, thereby mitigating the risk of structural failure due to reported cracking.
The policy objective of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as outlined in these directives, is to maintain the highest standards of safety in civil aviation by ensuring that aircraft are maintained in a safe and airworthy condition. This is achieved through the implementation of mandatory inspection and compliance requirements, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, includes Airworthiness Directives (AD) that mandate safety standards for certain aircraft. In this instance, AD/BELL 206/98 pertains to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, namely models 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 within specific serial number ranges. The directive applies to all such helicopters and mandates a specific inspection protocol to address reported cases of chordwise cracking in the main rotor blades. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with inspections required at daily intervals until a specified date, after which the inspections must be completed prior to a certain date. The pilot in command has the responsibility to perform these inspections and certify compliance in the Maintenance Release document. The geographic reach of this directive is national, applying across all jurisdictions within Australia where these aircraft are operated. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in the text provided, and the application of the directive is direct and does not rely on subordinate instruments for extension or restriction.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate a schedule of airworthiness directives for certain models of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters. The regulation in focus is AD/BELL 206/98, which pertains to the inspection of main rotor blades (Section 5/85TX). This directive applies to all models 206L and 206L-1 with serial numbers ranging from 45001 to 45790 and 46601 to 46617, as well as model 206L-3 with serial numbers from 51001 to 51109, 51111 to 51117, and 51119 to 51124. The requirement is that these helicopters must adhere to Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 206L-85-35.
Compliance with AD/BELL 206/98 is structured into two parts. Part 1 stipulates that each daily inspection must be conducted after 22 March 1985 until the conditions of Part 2 are met. This inspection must be carried out by the pilot in command, who is required to enter and certify compliance with this directive in Column 2, Part 3 of the Maintenance Release for each inspection. Part 2 requires compliance before 1 June 1985. The directive addresses the manufacturer's reports of chordwise cracking in the main rotor blades, which is a critical safety concern.
The obligations imposed by this directive include ensuring that the specified helicopter models are inspected daily by the pilot in command until the specified compliance date. The pilot must record the inspection and certification in the Maintenance Release, demonstrating adherence to the airworthiness directive. The directive is intended to mitigate the risk of in-flight failures due to rotor blade cracking, ensuring the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.
Failure to comply with AD/BELL 206/98 may result in significant legal and operational repercussions. The Civil Aviation Regulations provide for various penalties for non-compliance, which may include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach. The maximum penalties can vary, but they are designed to enforce strict compliance with airworthiness directives to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation. Non-compliance could also result in the grounding of the affected aircraft until the required inspections are satisfactorily completed.